Amid national press reports that Palin might head her bus tour of historical sites toward the Hawkeye State, Iowans were quick to offer suggested stops.

Maybe a subtle nod to Mitt Romney by marching on the Mormon Trail?

How about a quick stop in Muscatine County, so the former Alaska governor could see Moscow from her bus window?

Iowa State University’s history chairwoman, Pamela Riney-Kehrberg, gave a serious recommendation: Postville, known for wrestling with illegal immigration.

Citing “well-informed sources,” RealClearPolitics .com reported earlier this week that Palin “may” pay tribute to Iowa’s agricultural past and present by visiting the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Wednesday through Friday at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, and her advisers aren’t saying, of course. Aides refer reporters to the SarahPAC website for schedule updates. But the website, which features a request for donations, gives information about past visits, not future stops.

It’s an unconventional approach by an unconventional political celebrity, a strategy many national commentators see as a tryout for a presidential bid.

On Friday, Palin and her family headed to Boston to fly home. Palin told reporters the tour would resume soon, but didn’t say when. She told Politico that if the tour goes to Iowa, she’d like to meet with Gov. Terry Branstad, whom she endorsed last year.

Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht said Friday evening that Palin had not been in contact with the governor.

Sen. Kent Sorenson, R-Indianola, offered up several sites steeped in Iowa history for Palin to visit: the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque, the Iowa Capitol, and Fort Des Moines, where building began in 1901 and where the first officer candidate class of African-Americans in U.S. military history was commissioned in 1917.

But Sorenson makes it clear that while he would welcome Palin to Iowa, he wouldn’t encourage her to run for president.

“I’m no fan of Sarah Palin’s,” said Sorenson, who is managing potential presidential candidate Michele Bachmann’s early efforts in Iowa.

“I think she’s fantastic at what she’s doing, and I think she should stay in that role.”

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum would be an ideal spot, too, noted Peter Swisher, the site’s superintendent. Swisher said he chose his words carefully to remain politically neutral.

“You can understand I don’t want to get into a political war,” he said. “Especially if she aspires to be my boss. I have to be careful.”

Hoover, of course, might not be Palin’s favorite role model. A fellow Republican, he was ousted after a single term marred by onset of the Great Depression.

Megan Jacobs, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Democratic Party, with tongue firmly in cheek suggested Palin celebrate American capitalism with a visit to the world’s largest Cheeto in Algona.

Jacobs also suggested Palin visit the birthplaces of some of Iowa’s famous figures, noting that some are known “for going rogue in their time.”

Such figures include Old West showman Buffalo Bill and actor John Wayne, she said.

Delia Meier suggested Palin hang out at a truck stop.

But not just any truck stop: Meier’s family helped start Iowa 80, a mammoth attraction in Walcott that employs 480 people and bills itself as the world’s largest truck stop. It would be appropriate for Palin or any other candidate to pay homage to an industry that has helped revolutionize the modern world, Meier said.

“That development of the huge trucks like we have here is a uniquely American industry,” Meier said. “All of the sudden the Midwest could have oranges in the winter time. It changed the way we can live.”

Jessica O’Riley, the tourism communications manager for the Iowa Economic Development department, instantly named about a dozen sites for Palin to visit.

Her suggestions ranged from Camp Algona POW Museum to Living History Farms in Urbandale.

“There’s no lack of places to visit in Iowa,” O’Riley said, visions of dollar signs no doubt dancing in her head.